Lt. Gen. John Brennan from U.S. Africa Command visited Tanzania to strengthen military partnerships and attended the closing ceremony for Exercise Cutlass Express 2025. The exercise involved over 1,000 participants from various nations and aimed at enhancing regional maritime security and operational capabilities. It highlights the importance of cooperation in combatting maritime threats through joint training and strategic partnerships with Tanzanian forces.
U.S. Africa Command Deputy Commander Lt. Gen. John Brennan visited Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on February 20-21, to strengthen partnerships with Tanzanian military leaders. During his meeting with Gen. Jacob John Mkunda, they discussed strategic cooperation, emphasizing the newly-signed State Partnership Program agreement with the Nebraska National Guard, which promotes mutual training and enhances security collaboration between the U.S. and Tanzania.
Brennan attended the closing ceremony for Exercise Cutlass Express 2025, affirming the exercise’s role in maritime security in the Western Indian Ocean. Over 1,000 participants from 20 nations participated, showcasing the significance of multinational cooperation in addressing issues such as piracy and trafficking. Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Michael Mhona highlighted the exercise as an exemplary model of regional teamwork.
The exercise, running from February 10-21, included various training activities aimed at improving regional maritime operations. Training involved U.S. P-8A Poseidon aircraft for communication and specialized instruction in Tanzania, Mauritius, and Seychelles. This year’s Cutlass Express emphasized enhancing legal protocols for maritime operations and involves training programs to establish effective coordination among national maritime operations centers across partner nations, enhancing interception capabilities.
Brennan expressed gratitude for Tanzania’s role in hosting simultaneous exercises, noting TPDF’s superior operational capabilities. The enduring partnership with Tanzania is aimed at bolstering cooperative maritime security efforts across multiple continents, thereby enhancing collective security against illicit maritime activities. Cutlass Express represents a strategic component of U.S. Sixth Fleet’s maritime exercises focusing on African forces and global partners’ collaboration against security challenges.
This partnership emphasizes the importance of strong military ties between the U.S. and Tanzania, particularly through collaborative exercises like Cutlass Express. These initiatives are critical in enhancing regional maritime security and leveraging international resources to combat security threats such as piracy and illegal fishing. Efforts will continue to strengthen cooperation across diverse nations and regions.
Original Source: www.africom.mil
